SPORTS DIGEST - CYCLING:Siobhán Dervan has been riding strongly in the Route de France while Daniel Martin is showing well in the Tour of Portugal, writes Shane Stokes.
Dervan was lying an excellent 27th overall after four days of the Route de France, 11 minutes and five seconds behind the overall leader, Luise Keller (Columbia). She was 35th in the opening prologue, then placed 53rd, 38th and 31st on the next three stages.
Despite controversially not being awarded a grant this season, the national road-race champion has shown she is capable of mixing it with the best riders in the world.
Martin, the men's national champion, has made an excellent pro debut. He won the Route du Sud and the Irish title in June, and is now aiming to do well in Portugal.
He was 24th in the opening prologue on Wednesday and finished in the main bunch on yesterday's 198.6-kilometre race to Beja, posting the same time as the stage winner, Danilo Napolitano (Lampre). Martin is 17th overall going into today's 165-kilometre run to Castelo Branco.
At home, Geraldine Hendricken (Newbridge) took the final round and the overall win in the Wicklow Women's league on Tuesday.
FIXTURES:Saturday: Alo Donegan 10 mile TT, Midway Hotel, near Portlaoise, 11am; IVCA 25-mile TT, Enfield, 9.15am; Portlaoise 10-mile TT, Cork Road, 11am; Interpro track league, Sundrive Road, 11am; North Down GP, Balloo, Killinchey, noon. Sunday: Brendan Campbell Memorial, Donore, Co Meath, 1.45pm; Billy Stewart Cup, Derrymacash, 1pm; Karl McCarthy/George Harding Memorials, Glounthaune, Cork, 1pm. Ulster XC League, Castlewellan, 11am; Connacht club TT league, Castlebar, 10am.
Sharpe dropped from squad
RUGBY: Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe has been dropped from the Australian squad heading to South Africa for the final two Tri-Nations matches later this month.
Coach Robbie Deans has also left out starting scrumhalf Luke Burgess after he sustained a knee injury in training on Wednesday.
An MRI scan yesterday revealed a meniscus tear that will put Burgess out of action for at least four weeks.
Calzaghe to retire after Jones fight
BOXING: Britain's Joe Calzaghe said yesterday he would finish his 15-year boxing career after his light-heavyweight fight against American Roy Jones jr.
Calzaghe, who had indicated in April he would have one more fight, told a news conference that the November 8th bout at Madison Square Garden for The Ring magazine crown would indeed be the end of the road.
"It's a massive fight and it will be my last," said the 36-year-old Welshman. "I've known for a while when I want to go out and as long as I put on a great performance this is my time.
"If I can do that then I've achieved everything I've wanted to achieve in my career. I would never forgive myself if I came to my last fight and threw it all away. But I know in my heart this is the right time to stop and my aim is to remain undefeated."
Rossi looking for another victory
MOTOR CYCLING: The Italian rider Valentino Rossi aims to drive home the advantage of his thrilling win over MotoGP title rival Casey Stoner in the US when the season resumes in the Czech Republic this weekend.
Rossi ended a three-race winning streak by the Australian defending champion at Laguna Seca after a dramatic battle.
Before the race in America, Stoner had shown the sort of form that won the Ducati Marlboro rider the world title last season.
But Rossi hit back with a stunning win and hopes to build on his 25-point lead in the standings with another victory at Brno.
Rossi knows what it takes to win at Brno as he has won races there in all three categories - 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP.
He will also be looking to make up for last season's disappointment at the circuit when he could only finish seventh as his title hopes were dashed by Stoner.
